A PLANT FRAUD. 



93 



I do not wish to lay much stress on the fact, 

 but I have noticed in other islands that honey- 

 creepers are extremely fond of frequenting logwood 

 bushes (Hcematoxylon) and trees of the mimosa and 

 csesalpinia order and that the fore-parts of the head 

 of these birds are often smothered with yellow pollen. 

 Logwood is certainly not found in Swan Island, and if 

 any species of mimosa or csesalpinia were present they 

 did not attract my notice. 



The absence of two other trees on Swan Island is a little 

 interesting ; because both are found in the Caymans. 

 These two trees are the mahogany tree and the " cedar " 

 tree (Cedrela odorata), of which cigar boxes are made. 

 Of other trees and plants which are present, in addition 

 to the ones which we have already mentioned, there was a 

 small shrub-like plant which impressed itself on our notice 

 more than any other. This was Phyllanihus speciosus * 

 [Xylophylla) a plant which grew about breast-high and 

 formed a conspicuous part of the undergrowth, which 

 otherwise was very scanty. Phyllanihus belongs to the 

 wide-spread family of Euphorhiaceoe and is peculiar in 

 being leafless. What one takes at firsfc sight for leaves 

 are really only flattened out and leaf like stems (dadodes). 

 These false leaves are lance-shaped and rather leathery 

 looking (the plant being an obvious xerophyte, or one 

 accustomed to dry stations) and round their thin edges are 

 arranged the minute pinkish-red flowers, either male or 

 female, very much after the style of the flowers which are 

 seen on the edges of the leaves of the butcher's broom- 

 (Ruscus androgynus) which is found in the Canary Islands. 

 The real leaves of phyllanihus exist as minute scales. It is 

 interesting to note that according to Griseback, P. speciosus 

 is in Jamaica a mountain species. It probably got itself 

 conveyed to Swan Island by means of the wind. Other 

 species, of the same sub-group (Xylophylla) to which 

 P. speciosus belongs, are found in Jamaica on rocks, in 



♦Kindly identified for me by Dr. Rendle of the South Kensington. 

 Museum from specimens which I collected. 



